I am espoused to Him whom the angels serve.
Sun and moon stand in wonder at His beauty.
~from the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Upcoming World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Earlier this month, Pope Francis instituted the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be celebrated each year on September 1. Pope Francis has reflected upon our current ecological crisis at length in his recent encyclical "Laudato Si'" ("Praise Be To You"), on the care of our common home. He concluded his encyclical with the proposal that we offer two prayers, which appear below. They are excellent prayers for any day and every day but especially for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

A prayer for our earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe

and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with peace, that we may live

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,

help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,

that we may protect the world and not prey on it,

that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts

of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

Amen.

A Christian prayer in union with creation

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.

They came forth from your all-powerful hand;

they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.

Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,

through you all things were made.

You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,

you became part of this earth,

and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.

Today you are alive in every creature

in your risen glory.

Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light

you guide this world towards the Father’s love

and accompany creation as it groans in travail.

You also dwell in our hearts

and you inspire us to do what is good.

Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,

teach us to contemplate you

in the beauty of the universe,

for all things speak of you.

Awaken our praise and thankfulness

for every being that you have made.

Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined

to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world

as channels of your love

for all the creatures of this earth,

for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.

Enlighten those who possess power and money

that they may avoid the sin of indifference,

that they may love the common good, advance the weak,

and care for this world in which we live.

The poor and the earth are crying out.

O Lord, seize us with your power and light,

help us to protect all life,

to prepare for a better future,

for the coming of your Kingdom

of justice, peace, love and beauty.

Praise be to you!

Amen.

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About Me

Dedication

I happily dedicate this blog ... to our Lord Jesus Christ, my Beloved Bridegroom, and to His Mother and mine, Mary, Virgin most faithful ... to my beloved parents, Gladys Yurkevicz and Richard Mansfield, who ignited the fire of God's love in my heart by their own deep love for and great devotion to Him ... and to Ann L. Krumrein, my dear older sister to whom I've always looked up and whose passion for life continually energizes and challenges me. I am most grateful to my sweet Annie for her stunning photography which enhances the pages of this blog.